WHITLOCK: Sports gets so much attention, and people tune out the real world, that I try to take advantage of the opportunity to talk about the real world when sports lends itself to that and try to open peopleís eyes. You know, I did not go as far as Iíd like to go because my thoughts on the NRA and Americaís gun culture Ė I believe the NRA is the new KKK. And that the arming of so many black youths, uh, and loading up our community with drugs, and then just having an open shooting gallery, is the work of people who obviously donít have our best interests [at heart].

I think itís obvious if youíve traveled abroad, and traveled to countries where they have legitimate gun laws, that we donít have to have what we have in America, where people somehow think a gun enhances their liberty, and that people somehow think a gun makes them safer. It just doesnít. A gun turns some kids listening to music into a murder scene. And uh, you know, if you donít have a gun, you drive home. You know, kids listening to some loud music, you donít like it, you go home and complain to your wife. But when you have a gun, you open fire, potentially, and take the life of a child.

I don't really know where I stand on this issue. I don't own a gun but I'm thinking of getting a hand gun for personal protection. I've gone to shooting ranges a couple of times, but would take hand gun training classes if I bought one. If confronted with a situation where my life or my family was at danger, I'm not sure how I'd react. If you hesitate to shoot the bad guy, you may die. I have a pretty bad temper and I think a gun could get me into trouble. There were times during my divorce (20 years ago) I had some pretty bad thoughts of what to do to my ex-wife. If I had a gun, it I might have gone through with it and could have ended up like Belcher. It was one of the low points of my life, but I sought out counseling because I didn't feel in control of my anger.

In regards to the pro gun people, how do you explain the high number of deaths by guns in the US compared to other countries? The statistics seem to support tighter gun controls, or is this just twisted information?

WHITLOCK: Sports gets so much attention, and people tune out the real world, that I try to take advantage of the opportunity to talk about the real world when sports lends itself to that and try to open people’s eyes. You know, I did not go as far as I’d like to go because my thoughts on the NRA and America’s gun culture – I believe the NRA is the new KKK. And that the arming of so many black youths, uh, and loading up our community with drugs, and then just having an open shooting gallery, is the work of people who obviously don’t have our best interests [at heart].

I think it’s obvious if you’ve traveled abroad, and traveled to countries where they have legitimate gun laws, that we don’t have to have what we have in America, where people somehow think a gun enhances their liberty, and that people somehow think a gun makes them safer. It just doesn’t. A gun turns some kids listening to music into a murder scene. And uh, you know, if you don’t have a gun, you drive home. You know, kids listening to some loud music, you don’t like it, you go home and complain to your wife. But when you have a gun, you open fire, potentially, and take the life of a child.

I'm pretty sure Jwhit meant to say "illegally obtained guns" as well as "illegal drug use". He's talking about the black market that nobody, including groups such as the NRA, wants to confront. I'd agree, but the other premises he brings forward I do not agree with.

I don't really know where I stand on this issue. I don't own a gun but I'm thinking of getting a hand gun for personal protection. I've gone to shooting ranges a couple of times, but would take hand gun training classes if I bought one. If confronted with a situation where my life or my family was at danger, I'm not sure how I'd react. If you hesitate to shoot the bad guy, you may die. I have a pretty bad temper and I think a gun could get me into trouble. There were times during my divorce (20 years ago) I had some pretty bad thoughts of what to do to my ex-wife. If I had a gun, it I might have gone through with it and could have ended up like Belcher. It was one of the low points of my life, but I sought out counseling because I didn't feel in control of my anger.

In regards to the pro gun people, how do you explain the high number of deaths by guns in the US compared to other countries? The statistics seem to support tighter gun controls, or is this just twisted information?

That link/report is not very useful in the analysis of gun related murder because it excludes the most common drug associated with gun related murder -- alcohol.

Have a look at this-
Alcohol link in 47% of murders

ALMOST half the homicides between 2000 and 2006 involved the consumption of alcohol, according to figures in a report.

A paper released by the Australian Institute of Criminology showed that of the 1565 murders recorded in that period, 746 or 47 per cent were classified as alcohol-related and, in 60 per cent of these incidents, the victim and offender had been drinking alcohol.

The Alcohol and Homicide in Australia paper drew on victim toxicology reports.

The institute's general manager (research), Dr Judy Putt, said eight of 10 homicides occurring in recreational venues were alcohol related and homicides on weekends or evenings were most likely to involve alcohol.

"Factors like gender, employment status, age, the relationship between victim and offender, as well as whether those involved were of indigenous backgrounds, affected the likelihood of alcohol being involved," Dr Putt said.

"Homicides involving male victims, unemployed victims and young offenders were also identified as most likely to have been alcohol related."

The paper also shows that 44 per cent of intimate partner homicides were alcohol related.

"The study found homicides where a male victim was killed by a female intimate partner were highly likely to be related to alcohol consumption (73 per cent), indicating that it is a more significant factor in intimate partner homicide than indicated by previous studies.

"Eighty-seven per cent of intimate partner homicides among the indigenous population were alcohol related, making it the highest proportion of alcohol-related homicide of all factors studied," Dr Putt said.

Bob Costas was on the Dan Patrick show and was semi back pedaling, but then went full on stupid and asked why do people need semi automatic weapons. But claims to support the 2nd amendment. Its easier for people like him to add that qualifier, but then add stupid caveats along with it. They think it helps.
DP was spot with him, he said he thought he was a little heavy handed with his last remark about if he didn't have a gun these two people would probably be alive. Costas back pedaled and said those were Whitlocks remarks I was quoting him and couldn't reach him to add my qualifiers before hand. Costas is a tool.

"What I believe in my heart is Jovan Belcher was going to find a way to wreak havoc that day whether he had a gun or a knife or only his fists. And even the potential to stop him is not justification for willingly handing over rights guaranteed to us"

I agree with this writer's assertion and will add we need to take a serious look at drug abuse in this country. It's a major component in this incident & others like it.